Cleaner for fluid suction device



Sept 13, 1960 G. M. MUNSON 2,952,412

CLEANER FOR FLUID SUCTION DEVICE Sept. 13, 1960 G. M. MuNsoN CLEANER FOR FLUID sUcTIoN DEVICE:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 50, 1958 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O CLEANER FOR FLUID SUCTION DEVICE t George M. Munson, '409 S. Edgewood, Lombard, 111.

Filed June 30, 1958, Ser. No. 745,377

4 Claims. (Cl. 239-417) This invention relates to cleaner for uid suction device and more particularly for water softener apparatus of the ion regeneration type.

, Difficulty has been encountered in fluid suction devices, especially such as are employed in automatic water softener apparatus, by reason of clogging of the venturi tube or `jet nozzle, the latter being peculiarly vulnerable to such clogging due to its restricted passageway and therebyrequiring frequent cleaning to maintain the system in operation, the necessity for such frequent cleaning being annoying and time consuming.

The present invention aims to provide means associated with the venturi tube by which the latter may be cleaned without removal from the system and simply by pressing a plunger which is automatically retracted to inoperative position by mechanical means such as a spring.

, The invention will be readily understood by reference to the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawing, showing an illustrative embodiment thereof and in which drawings- Figure 1 is an elevational view of a suction device having the invention applied thereto; 'Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Fig. 1; f. Figure 3 is an enlarged axial section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, the formation at the left-hand side of Fig. 2 being indicated schematically, and

Figure 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a water softener system incorporating the suction device of Figs. 1-3. Referring in detail to the illustrative construction shown inthe drawing, the suction device shown for illustratingthe present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 11, and is here described as employed as an inj ector` in. one form of a domestic soft water apparatus, suchl as that illustrated in Fig. 4, the general arrangement of which is well known in the art. Conventionally, the device 11 includes a passageway 12 which at one ice 21 is separated from by-pass 20 by a uid passing ejector element such as the usual venturi tube or jet nozzle 25 that is screwed into the opening 26 in the wall 27 between by-pass 20 and cavity 21. Similarly, cavity 21 is separated from the passageway 12 by wall 28. In an opening 29 in Wall 28 is screwed the suction tube 30 that cooperates with the venturi tube to create a. low pressure in cavity 21. The venturi tube has the usual restricted throat 31, and it is this restricted throat that tends to become clogged by dirt, sediment or other foreign substances.

Normally, water flows upwardly in the device 11 to soft water outlet 52 and the service faucets. At the beginning of this stage, water also ows upwardly through the tube 30 and out through the port 23a to the pipe 55 leading to the brine tank 56, to refill the latter after a previous withdrawal of brine therefrom for the regeneration step, valving apparatus 57 and 58 of known structure and function (see Patent No. 2,874,717) controlling the amount of water thus supplied to the brine tank. In a subsequent regeneration step, when water is caused to ow downwardly through the device 11 and fluid pressure forces the ball valve 13 onto the seat 19, the water is diverted through the by-pass 20, where, passing through the Venturi tube 25 and suction tube 30, it draws brine by suction from the brine tank, which brine and mingled water enters the top of the water softener to regenerate the zeolite of the latter as is well known.

Turning to the features of the present disclosure for clearing the throat 31 of the venturi tube Z5, which feature characterizesthe invention hereof, the outer end 32 of the branch 2.2 of the suction device 11 is here shown provided with a hollow screw closure 33 that is externally threaded as at 34 and is screwed into the internal threads 35 at the outer end 32 of the device branch 22. The enlarged head 36 of the hollow closure 33 seats in a cavity 37 in the branch end 32 and has a central tapped perforation 38 therein into which is screwed a plunger guide 39. Through the bore 40 ofthe plunger guide 39 passes a plunger rod 41 on the outer end of which is carried a thumb piece 41a screwed onto the rod as at 42. Be-

I tween the plunger guide 39 and the thumb piece 41a is jecting axially therefrom a scavenger member in the form end 12a is closed against ow of water in one direction necessary to` be' here described, The cage 14 is further l threaded as at17 to connect with pipe tting 50 which carries hard water inlet 51 and soft water outlet 52, and

the device 11 isvthreaded at its other end as at 18 to con- :nect with-pipe53 leading to the bottom of the softener tank 54. When water passes downwardly in the device `11, the ball valve 13 seats at 19 thereby closing the upper end 12a `of the passageway 12, but a by-pass 20e-20a is fp rovided `communicating with a cavity 21 in the branch 22 of the devicell, which by-pass and cavity also communicate with the passageway 12 below the ball valve.

Opening into cavity 21 by port 23a is a hollow boss 23 infwhich is entered a nipple 24 to which may be conlinected one end of a conduit 55 that at its other end enters the brine tank 56 of the Water softener apparatus. Cavity as here shown of a needle 46. Needle 46 may be a piece of stiff wire rmly secured to .the end 4S of the plunger rod enlargement 44, and of a diameter to pass just snugly through the venturi throat.

As best seen in Figs. l and 2, the plunger guide 39 has .a non-circular perimeter whereby a wrench may be applied thereto to remove the plunger guide and plunger rod as a unit.

The expansion spring 43 urges the plunger rod 41 outwardly of the plunger guide 39, limited by engagement of the rod enlargement 44 with a counterbore shoulder 47 in the bore of the guide. At Ithis time, the needle 46 is retracted from the throat 31 of the Venturi tube 25 sufi-lciently to avoid interference with the passage of fluid therethrough. When, however, the throat 31 becomes closed by extraneous matter the thumb piece 41a may be pressed upon to depress the plunger rod 41, against the action of the coil spring 43, thereby forcing the scavenger needle 46 momentarily through the throat 31 of the venturi, thereby clearing the latter of dirt or -the like. As soon as the thumb piece 41a is released, the spring 43 again retracts the plunger 41 to withdraw the needle 46 from the throat 31.

`The hollow closure 33 is shown kerfed as at 48 (Fig. 2) sothat it may be unscrewed if desired from the opening 35, carrying the plunger with it and aording access to the venturi 25.

Wire needle 46 is of a length such that it may pass well through throat 31 before plunger enlargement 44 engagesl the venturi passageway tapered wall 49, and the tapered termination 45 of the plunger enlargement further assures this result.

Employing the present invention, it would be entirely feasible for the user to press the plunger 41 at intervals of, say, every week, in the use of the water softener system rather than to await failure thereof by clogging of the venturi. -In any event, by means of the present invention, it is unnecessary to remove the closure such as 33 for the purposes of inspection and cleaning of the venturi. By removing the closure 33 still further access may be had to the venturi.

j While the invention has been described specifically in connection with'a water softener system, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art of such suction devices, having the beneiit of the present disclosure, that other applications thereof and uses therefor may be made and availed of with advantageous results.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention having been shown, in accordance with the statute, such changes may be made, including omissions, modifications or additions as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing therefrom.

What is here claimed is:

l. An injector including a body forming a suction chamber communicating with a tting adapted for connection with a conduit for supplying a liquid to be injected, said injector having structure forming a smoothly reducing venturi approach passage and a discharge passage aligned with one another but spaced apart within the suction chamber to provide injection from the suction chamber into the discharge passage as a jet from the Venturi approach passage enters the discharge passage, the discharge passage being of larger internal diameter than the facing tip of the approach passage, ttings for connection with a wa-ter supply and delivery pipes connected together through said passages, and cleaning means for the approach passage 'including a pin aligned with the approach passage, of a diameter to tit it snugly and of a length to pass through the approach passage, and a plunger carrying said pin slideably to project it through the approach passage and to remove it from the reduced portion thereof, extending externally of the injector and having externally of the injector means for moving it inwardly to clean the approach passage; and a spring biasing the plunger outwardly to a limit position; said chamber forming a pocket below the space between the passages in which any debris scraped from the approach passage may accumulate if it does not pass out through the discharge passage.

2. An injector including a body forming a suction chamber communicating with a fitting adapted for connection with a conduit for supplying a liquid to be injected, said injector having structure forming a smoothly reducing venturi approach passage and a discharge passage aligned with one another but spaced apart within the suction chamber to provide injection from the suction chamber into fthe discharge passage as a jet from the venturi approach passage enters the discharge passage, the discharge passage being of larger internal diameter than the facing tip of the approach passage, fittings for connection with a water supply and delivery pipes connected together through said passages, and cleaning means for the approach passage including a pin aligned with the approach passage, of a diameter 4to iit it snugly and of a length to pass through the approach passage, and a plunger carrying said pin slideably to project it through the approach passage and to remove it from the reduced portion thereof, extending externally of the injector and having externally of the injector means for moving it inwardly to clean the approach passage;I and a spring biasing the 4 plunger outwardly to a limit position; said plunger being carried by a collar threaded to the body of the injector, said approach passage being formed in a nozzle threaded to the body and of a diameter smaller than the cap threads, and the discharge passage being formed of a tube threaded to the body and of a diameter smaller than the nozzle threads, the cap, nozzle and tube being substantiall ly coaxial.

3. The combination of a regenerative water softener, a brine tank, and an injector for drawing brine from the tank to pass it through the softener, said injector including a body forming a suction chamber communicating with a fitting adapted for connection with a conduit extending to the brine tank for supplying brine to be injected, said injector having structure forming a smoothly reducing venturi approach passage and a discharge passage aligned with one `another but spaced apart within the suction chamber to provide injection from the suction chamber into the discharge passage as a jet from the venturi approach passage enters the discharge passage, the discharge passage being of larger internal diameter than the facing tip of the approach passage, iitting's for connection with a water supply and delivery pipes connected together through said passages, and cleaning means for the approach passage including a pin aligned with the approach passage, of a diameter to fit it snugly and of a length to pass through the approach passage, and a plunger carrying said pin slideably to project itl through the approach passage and to remove it from the reduced portion thereof, extending externally of theA injector and having externally of the injector means for moving it inwardly to clean the approach passage; and a spring biasing the plunger outwardly to a limit position; said chamber forming a pocket below the space between the passages in which any debris scraped from the approach passage may accumulate if it does not pass out through the discharge passage.

4. The combination of a regenerative water softener, a brine tank, and an injector for drawing brine from the tank to pass it through the softener, said injector including a body forming a suction chamber comunicating with a tting adapted for connection with a conduit extending to the brine tank for supplying brine to be injected, said injector having structure formlng a smoothly reducing venturi approach passage and a discharge passage aligned with one another but spaced apart withln the suction chamber to provide injection from the suction chamber into the discharge passage as a jet from the venturi approach passage enters the discharge passage, the discharge passage being of larger internal diameter than the facing tip of the approach passage, ttings for connection with `a water supply and delivery pipes connected together through said passages,- and cleaning means for the approach passage including a pin aligned with the approach passage, of a diameter to nt 1t snugly and of `a length to pass through the approach passage, and means to move the pin through and out from the `reduced portion of the approach passage to clean sald passage to ensure normal injector actlon.

References Cited in the ijle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 643,074 Sweeney Feb. 6, 1900 977,281 De Vilbiss Nov. 29, 1910 1,811,637 Ladisch June 2s, 1931 2,705,170 Pedigo Mar. 29, 1955 2,715,098 Whitlock Aug. 9, 1955 2,820,419 Albertson Jan. 21, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 162,669 Australia M ay 2, 1955 292,027 Great Britain lune 14, 1928 7 36,757 France Sept. 2.6, 1932 

